She came on the scene when Jesus was headed off to heal a man’s daughter. A lone and sickly woman in a man’s world. Women at that time and place were valuable only if they met their understood purpose to be wives and have children. She’d been bleeding for twelve years, preventing her from fulfilling her reason for living in both society’s eyes and hers. Menstrual blood was considered unclean then, and few people, if any, wanted to be near her. Everywhere she turned, society echoed the worthlessness she felt. Most of us have felt discouraged, empty, judged, and not valued at one time or another. Even if we feel unworthy, we come away filled when we seek Jesus.
“And a woman who had [suffered from] a hemorrhage for twelve years [a][and had spent all her money on physicians], and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His outer robe, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A43-44&version=ESVLuke 8:43-44
Trembling
Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” While they all were denying it, Peter [b][and those who were with him] said, “Master, the people are crowding and pushing against You!” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me because I was aware that power [to heal] had gone out of Me.” When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling and fell down before Him. She declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him and how she had been immediately healed.
Luke 8:43-48
Jesus knew who touched him; he could’ve ignored it and moved on, but he cared too much to let things be. Jesus is more concerned with our complete restoration and healing than our comfort. Sometimes we need to see that we have nothing to offer to understand how much he loves us. The woman no longer had money, no purpose, and nothing to offer society; and she was broke. Now instead of grabbing a blessing and leaving, she came face to face with Jesus. Jesus used the opportunity to heal and reestablish her socially, mentally, and emotionally. He hurts when we hurt but isn’t afraid to let us sit in uncomfortable places where we must confront our fears, pain, and sorrow so he can turn the tables for us. He did this for the woman.
Worth It
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Luke 8:48
The nameless woman felt unworthy of Jesus’ time, and attention feared rejection. She didn’t want to interrupt being a burden or a problem she had felt for years. She’d been brought to desperation, that even overruled her sense of rejection. Jesus didn’t stop to embarrass her but to show everyone who had rejected her that she was important. He made the point to let everyone know she was well; and her faith (thought out of desperation) made her well. The last thing he said was, “Go in peace.” He has the same message for us today. No matter how desperate, rejected, or worthless we feel, he wants us to know that we are valuable to him and worth his time and attention and to come to him. He is never too busy for those he values, and that’s all of us.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[i] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows
Matthew 10-:29-31
